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AP Sports Digest

Posted 3/31/26

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. …

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AP Sports Digest

Posted

Here are the AP’s top sports stories that have moved or are planned to move today. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, including agate, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.

The New York sports desk can be reached at 800-845-8450, ext. 1630. Sports photos, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636.

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UPCOMING

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GLF--ON THE FRINGE-TIGER

DESCRIPTION: Tiger Woods is in the news as the Masters approach. That’s not always a good thing for golf. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 800 words, photos. With Golf Notes and Golf Glance.

UPCOMING: By 03/31/2026 3:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text

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BKW--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. BKW--NCAA-Things To Know Top seeds UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina are in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. Here are things to know. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by 4 p.m. ET. BKW--NCAA-Texas-Vic’s Chase -- Texas coach Vic Schaefer has come close to winning a national championship. Three previous trips to the Final Four close. Two title game appearances and losing one on a last-second 3-pointer close. The 65-year-old Schaefer is done with “close.” He wants to win one. And the Longhorns, back in the Final Four for the second consecutive year, just may have the team to do it. By Jim Vertuno. Text, photos by 4 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING: By 03/31/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text, DigitalPlans

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BKC--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the men’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. BKC-NCAA--Illinois-Underwood’s Path -- Illinois’s Brad Underwood coached for 26 years before finally landing his first Division I head coaching job. Now in year 39, the well-traveled 62-year-old is finally heading to the Final Four Saturday when the Fighting Illini meet UConn. By Kristie Rieken. Text, photos. BKC--NCAA-UConn-Mullins’ Homecoming -- Braylon Mullins’ hometown looks and feels like most other small American cities. But suddenly this town of 25,000 people finds itself in the national spotlight and in a frenzy not seen since three decades ago when another hometown hero, Jaycie Phelps, earned Olympic gold as part of USA Gymnastics’ “Magnificent Seven.” Here, everyone is now a UConn fan. By Michael Marot. Text, photos. BKC--NCAA-Michigan-Mara -- Aday Mara was on his tiptoes when he helped cut down the nets in Crisler Arena, celebrating Michigan’s Big Ten championship. The 7-foot-3 Spaniard later looked around and lamented that he and German center Malick Kordel were the only Wolverines without family on the court. If top-seeded Michigan wins two more games to claim its second national championship, Mara is thankful his parents will be with him in Indianapolis. By Larry Lage. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/31/2026 5:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, Text, DigitalPlans

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FBN--JAGUARS-ORLANDO

DESCRIPTION: NFL owners are expected to rubber stamp Jacksonville’s plan to play most of its home games in 2027 in Orlando.

UPCOMING: By 03/31/2026 6:30 p.m. EDT, Text

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SOC--PORTUGAL-US

DESCRIPTION: Coming off a 5-2 loss to ninth-ranked Belgium, the No. 15 United States plays fifth-ranked Portugal in the Americans’ final match before coach Mauricio Pochettino announces his World Cup roster. 300 words, photos, starts 7 p.m.

UPCOMING: By 03/31/2026 7:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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FBN--NFL MEETINGS

DESCRIPTION: Commissioner Roger Goodell wraps up the NFL’s league meetings with his annual address on Tuesday. He’s expected to address several topics, including the potential use of replacement officials and potential rules changes. By David Brandt. 700 words, photos by 6 p.m. PT

UPCOMING: By 03/31/2026 9:00 p.m. EDT, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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FBN--NFL MEETINGS-QBS

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak doesn’t want a rookie QB to start Week 1 in right scenario

SUMMARY: Fernando Mendoza won’t start right away for the Las Vegas Raiders if coach Klint Kubiak has his way. The Raiders are expected to select the Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft next month. Mendoza led Indiana to its first national championship and became the overwhelming favorite to go first. Aidan O’Connell is the only other quarterback currently on the Raiders after the team traded Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett. Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are among the veterans who remain unsigned.

WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 1:30 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:80e727498a2229614391224600de29a1&mediaType=text

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SOC--TOTTENHAM-DE ZERBI

Struggling Premier League club Tottenham hires De Zerbi amid concerns from women’s fan group

SUMMARY: Roberto De Zerbi has been hired as Tottenham’s third coach of the season in a last-ditch bid by one of England’s top clubs to avoid costly relegation from the Premier League. Tottenham, the reigning Europa League champion and an ever-present in England’s top division since 1978, is one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League with seven games left. The appointment came amid criticism from fans’ groups about the Italian coach’s past support of a player who was charged with — but not convicted of — offenses including attempted rape.

WORDS: 712 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 12:48 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:074c705ab2aad2a9f5fc3abc9f0be42e&mediaType=text

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GLF--TIGER WOODS-CRASH

Tiger Woods had hydrocodone pills in his pocket and bloodshot eyes at crash scene, authorities say

SUMMARY: A sheriff’s office report says Tiger Woods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had hydrocodone pills in his pocket when interviewed at the scene of his car crash last week in Florida. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office report released Tuesday said Woods’ movements were slow and lethargic, he was sweating as he talked to deputies and told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning. Neither Woods nor a second driver were injured. Woods’ agent at Excel Sports has not responded to multiple messages seeking comment.

WORDS: 601 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 12:46 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:87c98d8ed519b463997553677db46b87&mediaType=text

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HKN--PLAYOFF CAP CALCULATOR

A playoff salary cap is coming to the NHL. GMs get a calculator to help them navigate it

SUMMARY: NHL general managers of teams in the playoffs soon will have to deal with a new rule that has not been used in the league’s history: Their game lineups must fit under the salary cap. The new collective bargaining agreement included the change after years of complaints that teams were using long-term injured reserve to stockpile players whose combined salaries far exceeded the cap ceiling. GMs since before the Olympic break have gotten to experiment with cap-compliant lineups thanks to an update to the SAP-NHL Front Office App that debuted over a year ago for iPads. It’s now also accessible on iPhones.

WORDS: 612 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 12:19 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:af87805740295c2bdcf64b67306b3582&mediaType=text

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SOC--IRAN-COSTA RICA-PROTEST

Iran soccer players honor alleged child victims of the war before World Cup warmup

SUMMARY: Iran players and officials have posed with pictures of children allegedly killed by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes before their World Cup warmup against Costa Rica in Turkey. The players and staff members held the photos during the anthems. The stadium in Antalya had no spectators but FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended. Last Friday the squad also held small backpacks before another warmup against Nigeria to honor the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran. That strike killed more than 165 people, mostly children. The U.S. military is investigating. Iran has asked FIFA to move its World Cup games out of the U.S.

WORDS: 304 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 11:28 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b388f211a8f4ca93a6a82a108cfe3e7b&mediaType=text

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BKC--FLORIDA-RIOUX TRANSFERRING

World’s tallest basketball player, 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, is transferring from Florida

SUMMARY: The world’s tallest college basketball player is on the move. Florida’s Olivier Rioux, a 7-foot-9 center from Canada and the most popular athlete on campus, says he is entering the transfer portal. The portal officially opens April 7. Rioux played sparingly in two years with the Gators. He played 15 total minutes, finishing with seven, six rebounds and an assist. He set a Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest teen before he stepped foot on campus. Now 20, he’s looking for a chance to play more as a sophomore.

WORDS: 415 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 10:06 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d6779698352180b41a994f5e2c9dff11&mediaType=text

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BKN--NBA-PLAYOFF CHASE-GUIDE

The NBA’s stretch run has arrived. Here’s a look at what’s happening

SUMMARY: The NBA stretch run has arrived. There are seven games on Tuesday’s calendar. The five teams from each conference that won’t be going to the play-in or the playoffs are already known, so the focus shifts to seeding for the 20 teams still alive. Detroit, Boston, New York, Oklahoma City and San Antonio have playoff spots secured.

WORDS: 844 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 8:40 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ddff7722599ab29e217d33fd3667c132&mediaType=text

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FBN--REPLACEMENT REFS-HISTORY

NFL’s last foray into replacement refs featured blown calls, rule mixups and the Fail Mary

SUMMARY: The NFL’s last foray into replacement officials ended in embarrassment for the league when a botched call and comic confusion in a prime-time game led to the end of a lockout that marred the first three weeks of the 2012 season. The play known as the Fail Mary proved to be the final straw that helped end that labor dispute, drawing such widespread criticism that even the two major presidential candidates weighed in on it. But it was far from the only instance of a blown call, a lack of understanding of rules and procedures, or question of impartiality.

WORDS: 1371 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fe8394bfb41cb0417cf5b8b358b44d05&mediaType=text

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BKN--AROUND THE NBA

Boston’s Joe Mazzulla has a strong case for Coach of the Year. Don’t tell him that

SUMMARY: NBA awards voting is ramping up, and Coach of the Year looks wide open. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla, however, pours cold water on his own case. He calls the award “stupid” and says he does not need it. The comments come as Boston stays strong despite playing much of the season without Jayson Tatum. Other coaches also build strong cases. J.B. Bickerstaff has Detroit near the top of the East. Mitch Johnson has San Antonio near the top of the West. Teams also keep lobbying in other races as ballots near.

WORDS: 763 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:73e9b5109947b75bbf05510776b88920&mediaType=text

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BBO--MARINERS-RALEIGH

Scuffling 2025 AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh comes off the bench to help Mariners beat Yankees

SUMMARY: While Aaron Judge hit batting practice at T-Mobile Park, an advertisement featuring him and Cal Raleigh flashed on the videoboard with a link to buy tickets to the series between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. The reigning AL MVP was in the No. 2 hole for New York on Monday night, but Raleigh, the AL MVP runner-up last year after hitting 60 homers — the most in a season by a catcher — was not be in the Mariners starting lineup for the series opener.

WORDS: 797 - MOVED: 03/31/2026 1:47 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9174186e880ff3adf2fd09d57c9156ad&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW ___

—BKW--Poll at 50-Pioneer Programs

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